School

The light of dawn gently traced the contours of her delicate features, her silver lashes casting fan-like shadows beneath her eyelids.

Her tiny nostrils fluttered softly with each breath, and her petal-soft lips were faintly pursed.

She lay as quietly as an elf fallen into the mortal world, beautiful enough to seem unreal.

Bai Lin could not help staring in a daze, a strange, warm flutter rising in his little heart.

He crouched beside the bed with his chin cupped in both hands, his eyes unblinking. In a breathy whisper only he could hear, he softly and sincerely marveled,

"Na'er..."

"You're so beautiful..."

As though she had sensed his intent gaze, or perhaps simply because it was time for her to wake.

Na'er's long, butterfly-wing-like lashes trembled a few times before slowly lifting.

Those rare, crystalline pale violet eyes still held the misty moisture of sleep, like an amethyst lake shrouded in a thin fog.

She still seemed a little dazed, her unfocused gaze drifting for a moment before finally settling on Bai Lin's face so close by, where he was staring at her foolishly with his chin in his hands.

Their eyes met.

The mist in Na'er's eyes seemed to disperse slightly beneath that sudden exchange of gazes, and a faint, nearly imperceptible trace of reliance and reassurance quietly surfaced.

Her lips moved slightly. Her newly awakened voice was strangely soft and husky, like a dew-covered petal in the morning breeze brushing gently through the air:

"...Big brother."

That call was more natural than it had been last night, carrying the instinctive dependence of someone just waking from sleep. It was like a feather lightly tickling Bai Lin's heart.

"I'm here!"

"Na'er!"

Bai Lin answered almost instantly, a smile brighter than the dawn outside blooming across his face, full of undisguised delight and a hint of pride.

He hurriedly stood up, lowering his voice until it was soft and gentle, as though coaxing her.

"Time to get up. The sun's already shining on your butt!"

"Mom made a delicious breakfast and she's waiting for us!"

Na'er looked at the pure, warm smile on her brother's face and felt the utterly genuine concern in his words.

The confused haze in her eyes completely faded, and Bai Lin's small figure was reflected in her clear violet eyes.

She did not speak, merely nodded gently and made a clear, soft sound through her nose.

"...Mm."

Imitating Bai Lin, she rubbed her eyes with her little hands, then lifted the blanket herself. Her movements were still somewhat unfamiliar, but she obediently tried her best to adapt to her new surroundings.

Standing beside her and watching Na'er clumsily yet earnestly straighten her rumpled little clothes, Bai Lin felt as if something had filled his heart to the brim, leaving it swollen with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

The scent of breakfast filled the small dining room.

Lang Yue had made simple rice porridge, fried eggs, and several light side dishes.

The family sat around the table, the atmosphere warm and peaceful.

Na'er took small sips of the warm porridge, her movements somewhat reserved. But under Lang Yue's gentle gaze and Bai Lin's chattering introductions of "this is tasty" and "that is tasty," she gradually relaxed.

However, that peace was quickly shattered. The soul-guided wall clock let out a crisp chime.

"Ah!"

"Oh no!"

"I'm going to be late!"

Bai Lin abruptly put down his spoon, panic written all over his little face.

Today was the first day of school at Red Mountain Academy. He could not be late on his very first day!

"Eat slowly. Don't choke."

Tang Ziran set down his bowl and chopsticks. Watching his son fluster about, he found it rather amusing.

"There's still time. Dad will take you."

Bai Lin hastily wolfed down the last few mouthfuls of porridge, grabbed his backpack, and was about to rush outside when his gaze could not help sticking to Na'er, who had just set down her spoon and was sitting quietly in her chair.

His eyes were filled with deep reluctance and worry, as though he were not going to school but traveling thousands of miles away.

"Na'er..."

Bai Lin slowly shuffled over to Na'er, nearly twisting his backpack straps apart.

"I..."

"I'm going to school..."

"I'll be back this afternoon!"

"You have to listen to Mom while I'm gone, okay?"

He kept fussing over her like a little adult.

"If you get bored, you can read my picture books!"

"They're on the shelf over there!"

"Or..."

"Or you can play with my soul-guided little train! I'll teach you!"

Na'er raised her little face, her pale violet eyes clearly reflecting the undisguised, overwhelming attachment on Bai Lin's face.

She did not speak, merely nodded softly to show that she understood.

That quiet appearance only made Bai Lin even more reluctant to leave.

He took a few steps, then looked back three times. When he reached the door, he could not help running back again. He took one of Na'er's cool little hands and squeezed it firmly, as though trying to pass his strength on to her.

"Na'er, wait for me to come back!"

"You have to wait for me!"

"Mm." Na'er nodded once more. Her voice was very soft, but her response was clear.

"Enough, enough!"

Tang Ziran finally could not stand it any longer. Both annoyed and amused, he grabbed his son, who was still putting on this "tearful farewell" performance.

"If we don't leave now, you really will be late!"

"Na'er will be fine at home. Your mother will take care of her!"

Without another word, he hauled Bai Lin outside.

Bai Lin was half-dragged away by his father, but his little head stubbornly remained twisted around as he gazed longingly at the small silver-haired figure in the dining room, still calling out without pause.

"Na'er!"

"Wait for me!"

"I'll be back soon!"

"You have to wait for me—!"

Only after the front door closed and cut off his view did Bai Lin's reluctant cries fade away outside.

Lang Yue looked at the closed front door, then at Na'er sitting quietly beside her. She could not help shaking her head with a laugh.

"That child..."

"How did I never realize he could dawdle so much before?"

She walked over to Na'er and gently took her hand.

"Na'er, don't mind that silly brother of yours."

"Come on, Auntie will take you to see your new room, okay?"

"Let's tidy it up and give Linlin a surprise when he comes back this afternoon."

Na'er allowed Lang Yue to lead her, but her gaze remained fixed in the direction of the door through which Bai Lin had disappeared.

Deep within those clear violet eyes, an exceedingly faint yet genuine ripple quietly spread.

Feeling the warmth in her palm, she recalled how the boy had kept looking back, his eyes filled only with her. An unfamiliar, strange warmth quietly flowed through the empty field of her heart.

She gently nodded once more.

"...Okay."

Outside Red Mountain Academy.

Tang Ziran's broad palm rested on Bai Lin's head, ruffling his soft hair as he spoke in a steady, gentle voice.

"Son, pay attention in class and listen to your teacher."

"Dad will pick you up after school."

He watched as his son's small figure merged into the bustling stream of new students at the entrance to Red Mountain Academy. Only then did he turn around and join the crowd heading to work, his figure soon vanishing around the corner of the street.